Ryan & Co. hoping for big hit at Alamodome

By John Whisler :
November 17, 2012
: Updated: November 17, 2012 12:22am

A temporary home plate is placed on the location of home plate when the San Diego Padres and the Texas Rangers play during "Big League Weekend," a two-game set in the Alamodome on March 29-30, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/Express-News

First base will be near what is now the north end zone on the Alamodome football field when the Texas Rangers play the San Diego Padres during "Big League Weekend," a two-game set on March 29-30, 2013. The right field fence will be only 280 feet away from home plate.

Photo By Billy Calzada/Express-News

Nolan Ryan, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers baseball team, speaks during a press conference on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, to announce "Big League Weekend," a two-game set between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres to be played in the Alamodome on March 29-30, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/Express-News

County Judge Nelson Wolff throws the "first pitch" during a press conference on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, to announce "Big League Weekend," a two-game set between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres to be played in the Alamodome on March 29-30, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/Express-News

Ron Washington, field manager of the Texas Rangers, speaks during a press conference on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, to announce "Big League Weekend," a two-game set between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres to be played in the Alamodome on March 29-30, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/Express-News

Nolan Ryan, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers, greets "Rangers Captain, left, the team's mascot, and the "Ballapeno," mascot of the San Antonio Missions baseball team, during a press conference on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, to announce "Big League Weekend," a two-game set between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres to be played in the Alamodome on March 29-30, 2013.

Photo By Billy Calzada/Express-News

"Rangers Captain," mascot of the Texas Rangers, pesters San Antonio City Councilman Rey Saldana, who prepares to catch the first pitch during a press conference on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, to announce "Big League Weekend," a two-game set between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres to be played in the Alamodome on March 29-30, 2013.

Glancing at what soon will become the shortest of short porches in right field at the Alamodome, Texas Rangers outfielder Craig Gentry couldn't help but laugh when he saw the sign — 280 feet.

“I've been telling the guys if I can't hit it out at that distance, I shouldn't be in baseball,” he said. “I wish I was left-handed.”

It may not matter. Hitters of every size, shape and stance likely will take aim at the right-field wall — to be situated only 280 feet from home plate — when the Rangers bring baseball to the Alamodome next spring for the first time.

The short porch was only one of the tantalizing details outlined at a Friday news conference to promote the two-game exhibition series, dubbed “Big League Weekend,” March 29-30 at the dome.

In the series, the Rangers will play the San Diego Padres, parent club of the Missions.

Nolan Ryan, a Rangers' owner and first-ballot Hall of Fame pitcher, said the event was something the organization had talked about for some time.

“San Antonio is a special city that's always been special to the Ryan family,” he said. “We have a lot of fans in South Texas that come up to our ballgames.

“So we thought, ‘Why not come down here and play a couple of games? It'd be a neat experience.'”

Burl Yarbrough, president of the Missions, said the Texas League club will be working with the Rangers and Padres to host the event.

“Our fans are going to get to see a lot of young players who wore a Missions' uniform now playing in the big leagues,” he said. “It's going to be a great atmosphere.”

The games, scheduled to take place after teams break training camp before the start of the regular season, will come as a welcome change of pace for both clubs, Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

“Spring training can get to be a grind,” said Washington, who played for the Missions briefly in 1977 on his way to the big leagues. “I'm excited about it, and I know my players will be, too.”

The field will consist of a custom-made AstroTurf surface that will include no cutouts around the bases or home plate. Only the pitcher's mound will have dirt.

Reid Ryan, son of Nolan and CEO of Ryan-Sanders Baseball, which operates the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock, said RSB will foot the bill for the turf and construction of dugouts.

He declined to divulge cost estimates.

Reid Ryan also said the Rangers hoped to use the games to expand their fan base in South Texas, a region that has been an Astros stronghold in years past.

Rangers games will be televised this coming season on Fox Sports Southwest, which will be available on all satellite and cable companies in San Antonio.

The Astros recently signed a deal with Comcast SportsNet Houston, which as of today is not available to San Antonio viewers.

Ryan said RSB signed a one-year deal with the city, which owns the Alamodome, with the option for more years depending on the event's success.

The dome will be configured to seat 52,295.

But the hot topic was the right-field porch, which is 34 feet shorter than the famous one at Yankee Stadium.